The Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (C-TAC) applauds the reintroduction of the Compassionate Care Act in both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. This important legislation represents a meaningful step toward ensuring that every person living with a serious illness has the opportunity to receive care that aligns with their values, goals, and preferences.
The Compassionate Care Act builds on C-TAC’s vision to advance person-centered care that honors what matters most to individuals facing serious illness by strengthening advance care planning, improving access to high-quality palliative and hospice care, and creating greater accountability across the health care system.
National Advance Care Planning Registry Study
Among its most significant provisions, the legislation would establish a national advance care planning registry study to help ensure that a patient’s documented wishes can securely follow them across care settings and state lines. Too often, an individual’s advance directive is unavailable when they are hospitalized away from home, resulting in care that may not reflect their preferences. Making these documents more accessible at the point of care can help prevent unwanted treatments or the omission of treatments a patient desired when timely decisions matter most.
Advance Care Planning Education
The bill also invests in public education to encourage advance care planning conversations before a health crisis occurs. Most people delay these discussions until they are seriously ill or unable to fully participate in decision-making. By increasing public awareness and access to trusted information, the legislation empowers individuals and families to have meaningful conversations earlier, leading to care that reflects patients’ values rather than default medical decisions made during emergencies.
Permanent Authorization of Telehealth for Advance Care Planning Services
C-TAC also strongly supports the legislation’s permanent authorization of telehealth for hospice recertification and advance care planning services. For individuals who are homebound, medically fragile, or living in rural and underserved communities, requiring an in-person visit can create unnecessary barriers to receiving hospice services or documenting their care preferences. Permanently preserving these telehealth flexibilities will improve access while ensuring patients receive timely, person-centered care regardless of where they live.
Development of Core Quality Measures for Advance Care Planning
Finally, the Compassionate Care Act advances the development of core quality measures for advance care planning. Without consistent standards, the quality of advance care planning varies widely across health care settings, making it difficult for patients, families, providers, and policymakers to evaluate whether care is truly meeting patients’ needs. Establishing shared, evidence-based quality measures will promote accountability, encourage continuous improvement, and help ensure that high-quality advance care planning becomes the standard of care nationwide.
“The Coalition to Transform Advanced Care is pleased to support Senator Blumenthal’s reintroduction of the Compassionate Care Act. In C-TAC’s 15th year, the senator’s leadership continues to draw attention to issues of great importance to individuals with serious illness,” said Tom Koutsoumpas, Co-Founder & Co-Chair of the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care. “This legislation includes critical improvements for advance care planning (ACP), makes permanent telehealth provisions for hospice recertification and ACP at home and by audio only, and supports much needed provider and public education that will help ensure that patients’ care preferences are understood, recorded, and followed.”
C-TAC urges Congress to advance the Compassionate Care Act and remains committed to working with lawmakers and stakeholders to ensure every American has access to high-quality, person-centered serious illness care that honors individual choice and improves quality of life.
House sponsors
Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]*
Rep. García, Jesús G. “Chuy” [D-IL-4]*
Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]*
Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1]*
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]*
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]*
Senate sponsors
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
House bill
H.R.10013: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/10013/all-info?s=9&r=3&hl=Compassionate+Care
Senate bill
S.5219: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5219/all-info?s=10&r=1&hl=S.5219
